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Background Note
| HBS Case Collection
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2004
Why Developers Don't Understand Why Consumers Don't Buy
by
John T. Gourville
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Abstract
Looks at the psychological biases developers bring to the new product development process. Identifies three reasons why developers may do a poor job of identifying the demand for an innovative, new concept or product: (1) the self-selection bias, (2) differing initial endowments, and (3) the curse of knowledge. In the end, a developer's inability to understand the consumer's perspective can lead to unrealistic expectations for product adoption.
Keywords: Customer Focus and Relationships;
Innovation and Invention;
Knowledge Management;
Product Marketing;
Consumer Behavior;
Product Development;
Perspective;
Prejudice and Bias;
Citation:
Gourville, John T. "Why Developers Don't Understand Why Consumers Don't Buy." Harvard Business School Background Note 504-068, January 2004.